Vending machine bottle



A9915, .1999.g RAE-,Lum v 1 2,169,869

. VENDING MACHINE BOTTLE Filed Nov. 5, 1957 f Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a milk bottle adapted to be distributed from and returned to a vending machine. j

Such bottles must have a wide neck for filling and cleaning and when used in vending machines have been subject to such a high rate of breakage that the machines have not come into common use. Also, the seals on such bottles have leaked, and the contents spilled in the machine and on the other bottles, creating a very unsanitary condition. The bottle of this invention runs evenly on ways provided in the machine and the bottle has grooves formed to positively and readily find v the ways. Also the bottle is provided with inl" tegral means to make it roll straight with respect to other bottles. Thebottle has an opening of usual conguration so that it may be filled and capped in standard lling and capping machines, and the neck is so placed in respect to the other configurations of the bottle that it will operate in the vending machine with equal facilitity, whether it has a cap on, or not. This feature allows the bottles to be placed in a machine by one not highly trained. Machines are also designed which allow the user of the bottle to return an empty to itand to receive back an allowance for the return. In such machines the bottles must feed perfectly, even though placed in the machine by a consumer not familiar with it.

Other objects and advantages of the bottle will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bottle embody- 35 ing the invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the bottle on line 2-2 of Figure '1.

The bottle I has a generally cylindrical shape, with a neck 2 formed to receive the usual cap.

o Adjacent the neck, and also the bottom of the bottle, are integral projecting bands 3 of the same diameter. The bottle will roll on a plane surface in a straight line on these bands, and when two bottles are rolling together, whether `s3 corresponding ends are together or not, they will roll on these bands and thereby maintain a straight course.

Also adjacent each end of the bottle, and preferably next to the bands are deep grooves 4 and 5o 5. The groove 4 has a sloping approach 6 to the bottle body, which both enables one to more rmly grip the bottle, and also, it forms a lead to a way of a vending machine. The grooves 4 and 5, of equal diameter, run on ways in the vending machine, and when a bottle is placed in the machine, 5 if it is not in its correct lengthwise position on the ways, it will slide down on the slope 6 until the ways are in the grooves-groove 5 will be led to the way also as slope B leads groove 4 to its way. The grooves are substantially the same distance from each end of the bottle, but slightly nearer the top, so that space is' allowed for the thickness of a cap.

When the bottles are placed on the ways, they may be so placed without regard to which end l5 goes in which way-the grooves will nd the ways and the bottles will contact one another at the bands and roll through the machine on the Ways maintaining a straight line.

Due to this configuration filled bottles placed 20 in a machine roll evenly and straight to the exit, and will not be broken or caused to leak or jam in the machine. Empty bottles may be placed in a similar machine, with either end toward a side of the machine, and the bottles will roll accurately 25 and properly return a coin to the consumer.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A vending machine bottle having a generally cylindrical wall, a constricted neck adapted to receive a cap thereover, integral projecting rings of the same diameter adjacent and substantially equidistant from each end of the bottle, against which adjacent bottles of similar construction roll and a group of such bottles maintains a straight path in rolling, and grooves in the bottle likewise adjacent each end on which the bottle is adapted to roll on Ways in a Vending machine.

2. A vending machine bottle having a generally cylindrical wall, a constricted neck adapted to receive a cap thereover, a narrow deep set groove adjacent one end o-f the bottle, a groove of similar diameter substantially the same distance from the other end of the bottle having one sloping approach to the groove, said bottle being shaped to roll in a straight line when contacting an adjacent bottle of similar construction.

ROYDEN'A. BLUNT. 60 

